South African veterans Jacques Kallis and Mark Boucher said Monday they are raring to go for the Test series against England starting Thursday, given their 2-1 loss to their hosts ten years ago and a draw on their last tour in 2003.

Both men said on this occasion they want to make it third time lucky.

"There are three things I really want to achieve: One is beating England in England, a second is beating Australia - and the third is winning the World Cup," said batsman Kallis.

"We've come close in the past and made some silly mistakes at times when we shouldn't have," Kallis noted.

"This time we hope we can learn from those mistakes and get the foot all the way in through the door, not just half way - and make sure we play those big moments better than England," he added.

A Marcus Trescothick double ton helped to bring about a nine-wicket loss at the Oval in 2003 after South Africa had made 484 in their first innings, sticking in Kallis' memory.

But Kallis says this time the tourists are ready to atone.

"We're probably just favourites - although England being at home maybe makes it pretty much even.

"We've worked hard on our game. Everything we've done in the last year has been towards this series and the Australian one still to come," said Kallis, who said his team would have to try to dismiss England's South Africa-born batsman Kevin Pietersen as early as possible.

"He is obviously a key batsman, who has done well in these conditions. The wickets are quite slow here, and that does suit the way he bats. He's a world-class player who's proven it over the last few years, so we'll have to be on top of our game against him," said Kallis.

"It will be important that we try and attack him early and get him out early."

Pietersen's presence in the England side - he has an English mother but was born in Pietermaritzburg - adds an extra edge to the contest.